Lighting fixture



LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 17. 1921 HNR/ NTQR ALJJGUSTUS E). CURTIS Vvarm ages:

. kllatented @eto 3U, i923. y

UNTSTATES PATENT @FFHQQ AUGUSTUS D. CURTIS, @E CHCAG; ELLINQIS.

- source directly over directlyv, and

lLGHTllNG FEXTUBE.

`Application led. September t7, i921. Serial No. 561,265.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ll, AUGUs'rUs D. Cnn'rrs, a citizen of the United States,- residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Lighting Fixtures, of which the following is a specification. rllhis invention relates generally to illumination and particularly to improvements in light-ing fixtures. Y The general purpose of the invention is the provision of a decorative lighting xture having certain desirable qualities as to the diffusion and modification of light and including features of construction which facilitate its installation, its maintenance in proper working order and its adaptation to different conditions or requirements of use. A more specific object of the invention is the provision of ture of a lighting fixture designed to direct a certain amount of light from a contained a limited and intended area, to diffuse a certain other modicum of light from the source and render it avail-` able for general illumination of the room into modify through the instrumentality of proper modifying screens a third portion of the light from the source and diffuse it directly and indirectly about the directly illuminated area.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a lighting fixture applicable particularly as a fixture for dining.

rooms and arranged so as to illuminate the top of a table placed beneath the fixture directly with relatively bright light, to modify the portion of the light which is-directed beyond the area of the table so as to render it soft and diffused, and to secure a; desired general illumination of the room through the diffusion of light indirectly or by reflection from the ceiling.

Another particular object of the invention is the provision of such a fixture having a modifying shade portion and a light directing portion nant and cooperating in such relationships that the former may be removed to afford a fixture constituted of the light directing portion having certain desirable light distributing functions. I

Another specific object of the invention is the provision of a lighting fixture which includes alight modifying globe or shade io constructed and arranged in association improvements in the strucj both associated with the lumiwith the luminant and its support as to permit the ready detacent of the shade for the purpose of cleaning or substitution without in any manner incapacitating the luminant or its support or requiring any detachment of either.

Another important purpose of the invention is the provision of alighting fixture susceptible of embodiment in pleasing and ornamental design and e'ective to conceal the purely mechanical features of the lamp mounting as well as the source of light itself.

Another specific object ofthe invention is the provision of such a xture which may be constructed quite economically, and one which may be embodied in"a very light construction and at the same time be possessed of the necessary stability and rigidity to withstand contemplated usage and maintain its form and function.

Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims or obvious upon an understanding of the invention from the present disclosure, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. For the purpose of the presont disclosure l have shown in the drawing one structural form in which the invention may be embodied, but it is to be understood that the same is here presented for illustrative purpose merely and is not to be accorded the effect of imposing undue or unnecessary limitation upon the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed, as ll know that the invention may be embodied in various other forms and fashions.

ln the said drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a xture taken on a diameter;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail'illustrating a feature of the mounting of the light directing member;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail in the nature of. a part vertical section of the conlill@ which may be rigid or pendant and which forms a mounting for a socket 2 of customary construction adapted to constitute an operative connection mounting for an incandescent lamp 4., Adjustably mounted on the support 1, as by means of a set screw 5a,

is a sleeve 5 the lower portion of which is Sli -light directing member. L

spaced apart from the lamp socket and mountine as illustrated in Fig. 4, to a'ord an annular channel.

A xture embodying the subject matter of the present invention includes a suitable frame constituting a support for a light modifying member in the nature of a globe or shade, and a light directing member in the nature of a di'usng screen or reector. rlhis frame includes in the first place a hanger portion which is here illustrated as including a supporting ring 6 and attaching ring members 8, all of which may be formed conveniently of'metal rods or wires. rlhe supporting ring 6 may be of any desired conformation and 4of an extent to fulfill the requirements hereinafter specified, while the attaching ring 7 is of suitable size to encom-1 pass the socket 2 and lit within the annular channel beneath the'- sleeve member 5. Suitable attaching means, exemplif'led by the screws 9, is arranged for securing the hanger member to the support 1. rlhe hanger member constitutes a sustainin support for a ile the latter may be of various forms, l have illustrated one form now known to the trade, which comprises a bell shaped globe, the lower portion of which, designated by the numeral 10, is transparent or translucent and constitutes a light diffusing screen, "and the upper portion of which, designated by the numeral 11, is opaque and reective and flares 'upwardly and outwardl in a reverse curve or `ogee form, and constitutes a light reiecting portion. llt may be given this characteristic by having its outer surface silvered to constitute a mirror.- lhis light modifying member is supported on the hanger member in any suitable fashion,I the supporting means shown comprising clips 12 secured to the spacerI arms 8 and engaging under the upper flared marginal portion of the light directif); member. @ne of these clips is slidable on its supporting arm 8 so as to permit its being withdrawn to enable the dismounting of the light directing member.

The position of the sleeve 5 upon the support 1 is such that the luminant will be positioned approximately at the junction line between the members 10 and 11 or slightly above Said line. The hanger member thus forms a mounting for the light directing member whereby it is 'maintained on the lamp support in proper association with the luminant. With alight directing member of the form shown,- which is open at the bot- 7 which are connected by radial ner/acto tom, a certain amount of light from the luminant will be effective directly upon an area below the lamp, while a second portion ofthe light will be diffused through the light diusing portion 10, and a third por- 'tion of the light will be impinged upon the light reflecting portion 11 and reected upwardly at different angles so as to impinge the ceiling, whence it will be reiected to illuminate the room indirectly.

rl`he light modifying member includes a frame comprising an upper ring 14, a lower ring 15, one or more girth rings 16 disposed intermediate the upper land bottom rings and an aperture ring 17. These rings are connected and supported in the desired relationship by a plurality of spacing members 18. rfhe size and shape of the top ring 14 is such as to permit the insertion of the hanger member 8 and the light directing member through it. of the aperture ring 17 are approximately Such as to register with the bottom aper- `ture or light transmitting portion of the light directing member, while the bottom ring 15 is of somewhat larger diameter than the aperture ring, and the girth rings 16 The size and contour l are more appropriately of still larger diameter. The shape of these rings may be varied as desired to give the light modifying member any intended form. It isv contemplated that this form willbe such as to permit it to receive entirely within it the lamp and the light directing member. This frame of the light modifying member is covered with suitable translucent material 19 such as fabric, paper or glass which may be sup-ported upon the frame members in an suitable fashion, the areas within the top ring 14 and the aperture ring 17 being left uncovered. In the form illustrated it Will be observed that the aperture ring 17 is supported above theI bottom ring 15 and within the body of the light modifying member, the covering material between said rings forming a downwardly and outwardly flaring wall portion accommodating the direct transmission of 'light from the luminant. 'lhe light modifying member thus `constituted is detachably supported on vthe hanger member in any suitable or convenient fashion. 'In the illustrative embodiment I have shown the hanger provided with clips 20 attached to the ring 6 and cooperating therewith to afford slots into which brackets 21 carried on the frame of the light modifying member may be inserted and retained, rotation of the light modifying member being e'ective to accomplish engagement or disengagement ,of said brackets Iwith said 'supporting clips. -With the light modifying member thus supported in position on the hanger member, the lampl and the light directing member are entirely housed by the lightl modifying member, the

. from the luminant and` from nai-Pacto area Within the aperture ring 17 permitting the unrestricted passage of light directly from the luminant to the intended area beneath it, and the area Within the top ring i of light upwardly the reecting The diusing member 10, which may be of prismatic or frosted glass, is e'ective to did'use or distribute light against the inner surface of the covering material 19, through which portions of such light will be transmitted to the area about lthat subject to the direct illumination of light emerging through the aperture ring '17. The arrangement thus Will give the light modifying member an illuminated appearance which, through the employment of decorative edects, may be made very attractive and pleasing, and the light transmitted therethrough will be tonedy and softened. Due to the employment of diffusing member 10 the translucent modifying member Will be uniformly illuminated Without showing the glare of the lamp directly through it. @bjects Within the area of the directly transmitted light will be subjected to the bright illumination from the luminant, While the light which is directed upwardly 1d permitting the passage member ll.

'Will be diffused over the ceiling and rendered edective to illuminate the room generally in a subdued degree., 'llhe fixture is thus particularly adapted, both from features of design to which it is adapted and its illuminating characteristics, to use above tables, as in dining rooms or other installations/Where a decorative and effective iixture is desired.. The top of the table Will be Well illuminated by the direct rays, and the` room illuminated to a modified degree by the rellected rays, While the light transmitted through the light modifying member about the table Will be softened and modified so that it will not be trying to the eyes of persons Within the area subject to it.

lin addition to these desirable illuminating characteristics of the fixture, it is of particular advantage from a standpoint of maintenance due to the facility with which the light modifying member may be dismounted for the purpose dusting and the like, and particularly due to the fact that such dismounting d-oes not in any manner interfere with the operation or require the disconnection of the lamp or the light directinr member. 'llhus the likelihood of the intendbd relationship of the light directing member to the luminant being disa-rranged by inexperienced persons is practically eliminated. A further valuable feature re sides in the lightness of thev construction and its low cost, which, in conjunction with the facility for mounting and dismounting the light modifying member particularly adapts thelixture to installations Where it may be desired to substitute light modifying'members of various and differing designs for diderent occasions. The ixture also facilitates variation in the illumination 'of the roo-m" such as may be desired to accommodate different uses as, when a high degree of illumination is desired, the light modifying member may be removed, leaving the lamp and the light directing member in cooperative relationship, which members constitute in themselves a sightly and effective light distributing fixture. rlihe structure is particularly adaptable to great variation in design and form of the light modifying member, whereby it is accommodated particularly to decorative effects.

li claim:

l. lln a lighting-fixture the combination with a lamp support and lamp, of a hanger member mounted on the support above the lamp., a light directing member mounted Vou the hanger member and depending there-- from in operative association with the lamp,

and a light modifying member supported on l the hanger member and depending therefrom to encompass the lamp and light directing member; said light modifying member having portions accommodating passage of light directly from the lamp and portions disposed to receive light transmitted by the light directing member.

2. ln a lighting fixture the'conibination ivith a. lamp support and lamp, of a hanger member mounted on the support above the lamp, a light directing member supported on the hanger and depending therefrom in association with the lamp, and a lightA modifying member mounted on the hanger and substantially enclosingthe same and the lamp and light directing member; said lightmodifying member having` translucent wall portions arranged to receive light from the light directing member and also having clear openings arranged to permit passage of light upwardly and downwardly directly from the lamp.

3. ln a. lighting fixture the combination with a lamp support and lamp, of a hanger mounted on the support above the lamp, depending light directing member mounted on the hanger in association With the lamp, and a depending light modifying member detachably mounted on the hanger and substantially enclosing the lamp and light dirooting member. said light modifying member being movable to and from its mounted position Without requiring dismounting of the lamp or light directing member.

Ll. ln a lighting fixture the combination with a ceiling lamp sup-port and lamp, of a hanger mounted on the support and positioned above the lamp, a light directing member mounted on the hanger and encompassing' the lamp, a light modifyingA member mounted on the hanger, said light modifying member having a wall portion sublull stantially enclosing the lamp and light directing memberand affording topl and'bottom light transmittingapertures, said modifying memberbeing movable to mounted po'-, sition over the light directing member and lamp to position said light vtransmitting apertures in operative relationship to the lamp.v

v5. lln a. lightingfixturelthe combination with adepe'nding lamp support and lamp, of alight directing member supportedA on the former in operative y association with the latter, and a light modifying member encompassing the 'lamp and'directing meinber, said modifying member alfording a bottom'liglit emitting aperture and having an inwardly extending Wall portion terminating adjacent the light directing member.

6. lin a lighting fixture, incombinatioma frame adapted for mountingon a lamp support, a light directing'member mounted on said frame and .depending therefrom to encompass a lamp Yon the support, said light directing member 'having an.' upper portion adapted,4 to reflect light from the lamp upwardly and a ,lower light dilfusing portion arranged toldiiiuse light from the lamp laterally, a lightmodifying member mounted on the frame and enclosing the light directing member, said light modifying member, having unobstructed `Atop and bottom apertures' andthe 'light directing member havin unobstructed 'top andv bottom apertures or emission of light through the said apertures of the lightumodifying member.

7. lin a lightingiixture in combination, a hanger adapte/d for attachment to a lamp support, a light directing member mounted on said hanger to depend therefrom about a lamp on the support, and a light modifying member having translucent Wall portions arranged to encompass the light directing member and top and 'bottom apertures to permit unobstructed transmission of light from the lamp; said light directing member including a reflector portion disposed to reflect li ht upwardly through the top aperture of t e light modifying member, a light diffusing portion arranged to diduse light laterally against the Wall portion ofthe light modifying member and a bottom aper- 4 ture arranged tol permit transmission of light throu'h the ottom aperture of the light modi ing member. f

8. ln a lighting fixture, in combination., a hanger adapted for connection to a pendent lamp support, a light directingl member mounted on said hanger and depending therefrom in position to encompass a lamp on the support, a light modifying member mounted on'the hanger and having translucent Wall portions arranged to encompass the light directing member, said light directing member having a redector portion :intacto rangedA to reiect light from the lamp ytovvard the support and a light didusing portion arranged to diffuse light laterally from the lamp, bothl said reflector and diffusing portions being disposed to encompass portions of the lamp, and a light modifying member movable to and from mounted position on the support independently of the light directing member.

l0. A lighting fixture for overhead support comprising in combination, a hanger above the lamp adapted for connection to a lamp support, a ylight directing member mounted on said hanger and depending therefrom to encompass a lamp on the support, said light directing member having a rellector portion arranged to reflect light from the lamp toward the ceiling and a diffusing portion for diffusing light from the lamp laterali and a light modifying member detachab y mounted on said hanger and movable to and from a position encompassing the light directing member, said light modifying member having translucent Wall portions disposed to receive light from said light didusin portion.

Ill. ln a lig ting fixture, in combination, a hanger adapted for connection to a lamp support, a light directing member mounted on said hanger, and a light modifying member mounted on said hanger and encompassing the light directing member, said light modifying member having translucent side Wall portions affording an axial bottom aperture and a re-entrant Wall portion eX- tending from said side Wall portions about said aperture into proximity With the light directing member.

l2. lln a lighting fixture, in combination, a hanger having radial arms connected by a hoop portion, means for mounting said 'hanger on a lamp support, a light directing member detachably mounted on said arms in position to encompass a lamp on the support, and a light modifying member detachably mounted on said hoop portion in position to encompass the light directing member.

'ln testiirnony whereof li have hereunto signed my name.

' AUGUSTUS D. CURTIS,

ioa

lll() 

